Weer Bei FM (Redemption FM) is a Christian community radio ministry that is preparing itself for great impact. The Cush4Christ Sudan team, a mission of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA), has been planning a radio station for several years now. They are now on the verge of seeing how this powerful tool can spread the blessing of Christ’s redemption.

Over the course of 2009, God enabled the team to overcome many obstacles. Here are some of the milestones achieved: 1) through partnering organizations like Aid Sudan and Far East Broadcasting Associates (FEBA), God saw fit to have the supplies for this new component of the mission donated (radio tower and portable studio equipment); 2) a building was built to house the radio equipment and facilitate programming needs; 3) the tower has been constructed and readied; 4) presenters have been hired; 5) the studio equipment is in hand; 6) a 10-day training session with FEBA has been completed; 7) extensive forms for frequency and license were prepared and submitted to various government officials, in some cases multiple times.

In November the team was granted an FM frequency of 99.9 by the government of Southern Sudan, without cost. And, though it was not the frequency the team requested, the Lord empowered them to make all the appropriate adjustments to the antennae and transmitter to make them work with the frequency granted.

In the past, Christian radio ministries have often broadcast through shortwave signals with a large range but with little knowledge of the impact it had on the listeners. Now many Christian radio ministries (like FEBA, one of the team’s partners) are focusing on establishing Christian community radio stations with an FM signal that broadcasts in a smaller range but allows for a continual feedback loop with the listeners.

The area targeted is generally known as Aweil. Specifically, the state is called Northern Bahr El Ghazal. It is a homogeneous group of people from the Dinka tribe (also called Muonyjang). The signal will reach the majority of the population (approximately 1.7 million) and spill over into other states also consisting of Dinka people.

Scott Brinkerhoff, a member of a Presbyterian church (PCA) in Asheville, N.C., joined the Cush4Christ team last February to help lay a strong foundation toward an indigenous Christian radio ministry.

Part of Scott’s work has been to craft documents and organize a board that will help ensure a firm foundation to a ministry anchored in God’s Word. Along with the national workers, John Garang and Karlo Majok, Scott formulated this mission statement: “The purpose of Weer Bei FM is to glorify God by providing radio broadcasting that disciples the Aweil people in the truth of Christ’s redemption and the blessing of His rule throughout His whole kingdom.” From gospel-saturated programs to community announcements, from indigenous music to testimonies and interviews, the ministry will strive to apply the truth in a way that will direct listeners to follow the Lord Jesus.

In order to incorporate the face-to-face interactions necessary to the discipleship process, they are working toward adding a community-networking element to the radio ministry. Their plan is to direct listeners to radio representatives at centers throughout the broadcast area, where living discipleship can happen in radio discipleship groups. Those interested and qualified to lead a group will receive training in a nearby center. By using discipleship materials, radio listeners will have the opportunity to receive Christ and begin following Him. If there is a local gospel-centered church, they will be directed to join. If there is no local church, the church planter training institute will evaluate and train any qualified man who is willing join with the team in planting Reformed Presbyterian churches.

As radio will bring the word of life to unbelievers, it will also build up believers with formative teaching and preaching. It is within this context of community and abundant sound teaching that each disciple will naturally grow in his walk with Jesus from infancy to maturity. Disciples will be growing through further discipleship materials, and church-planters-in training will shepherd the church through the natural stages of church planting. A fellowship that develops into a mission church would be formed into an organized church and eventually multiply into new church plants.

Please pray for the workers laboring in the studio and for the people listening on the radio. Unless the Spirit is pleased to accompany the proclamation of His Word and unless the Spirit moves people to lead these new believers into a closer walk with Jesus, these labors will be in vain. The team’s great burden is not only to effectively teach and preach the gospel for the salvation of sinners but also to be used for the gathering of saints in communities where there once was no worship of the Savior.

When it comes time for the official launch of programming this month, the team wants to be ready to bring the harvest of new believers into the kingdom of God. The harvest is huge and the workers are few. Plead with the team for workers to be thrust into the fields to bring in the harvest and to make disciples of the Dinka people.

—Vince Ward

The Lord Continues to Build His Church in Africa

Cush4Christ started its mission in southern Sudan with a vision for “a viable and vibrant Church of Jesus Christ in ‘Aweil and beyond.’” Now, the Lord is making that vision a reality. As of November, there have been two mission churches established—Magnar Akuac and Parot—averaging an attendance of 100 in each location, and two preaching stations opened—Majak Ajuong and Lol Mading—with a combined total attendance of around 70.

In his report to the RP Global Mission board, Andrew Stringer wrote, “Last year I baptized 14 people; this year I baptized 42.” Those God is drawing to Himself as candidates for baptism attend a multi-week preparatory class following the morning worship services. Three men, Thomas, Karlo and Keribino, have been receiving training by Andrew and Vince for nearly four years and in November these men were examined for ordination and they successfully passed their exams. Then on December 5, 2009, these three men were ordained and installed as ministers of the gospel. We rejoice that God has brought these men through their training and exams. Please pray that God will guide and protect these men and their families as they labor in these fields ripe for harvest!

As one group of men completes their study and enters into the ministry, there are also a number of men who are beginning or in the midst of their training for ministry, and Andrew Stringer and Vince Ward are constantly looking for teachable men to train for ministry. Pray that God will continue to raise up laborers for this part of His kingdom.

It is hoped that by the time this article is published that one more preaching station will have reached mission church status and that another fellowship that was recently started will be thriving and have local leadership in place.

—Vince Ward